Meghan McCain Slams Arizona Immigration Law

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: In The News ,; Republicans ,; State Politics

(Credit: CBS)

Republican Sen. John McCain's daughter Meghan is speaking out against Arizona's new immigration law, taking a different stance than her father.

In a column published at The Daily Beast, Meghan McCain, who often tries to position herself a spokesperson of sorts for young Republicans, called the new law "seriously flawed" and "essentially a license to pull someone over for being Hispanic."

The new law compels police officers to question a person about his or her immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be in the country illegally. It would also make it a crime under state law to be there illegally. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed it into law on Friday, but some Arizona lawmakers are vowing to fight the measure.

"I believe it gives the state police a license to discriminate, and also, in many ways, violates the civil rights of Arizona residents," Meghan McCain wrote in her column, entitled "Hate the Law, Not Arizonans." "Simply put, I think it is a bad law that is missing the bigger picture of what is really going on with illegal immigration."

John McCain, who faces a tough Republican primary challenge this year, has called the measure a "good tool" for law enforcement. He acknowledged this weekend that there are some questions about whether the new measure can stand up to legal scrutiny, the Arizona Daily Star reports, but he added that lawmakers "acted out of frustration because the federal government didn't do its job."

Similarly, Meghan McCain wrote in her column that the state was responding to the federal government's failure to secure the borders and tamp down drug smuggling across the border. The new law, however, does not address those problems, she said. She added that partisanship and media coverage make it harder to find real solutions.

"With President Obama calling the law 'misguided' and the mainstream media painting Arizona out to be a rogue state, all it does is make people go to greater lengths to defend their position," she said.

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Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by doc444 June 6, 2010 2:36 AM EDT: Do you really have any idea as to what is going on. It shows that you are to pampered and do not live in the really world. So for your education Mexicans that commit murder and rape escape to Mexico and they will not extradite them here to face trail but they complain that we might make them feel bad by asking for and ID to prove they belong here. So I guess what we need to believe about you is that you value those that break our law over Americans that have spent their lives building this great country. I just saw on the news that 40% of those wanted in WA are Mexacans and most likely illegal but they being the good guys never ask when the post the photo. I am so angry at both you and your father I could spit nails.; Reply to this comment


by iconoclastKM April 29, 2010 2:20 AM EDT: Listen round-girl...

You say that you "think it is a bad law that is missing the bigger picture of what is really going on with illegal immigration."

Tell us, WHAT IS "the bigger picture" with illegal immigration?

Do you know, Meghan? Tell us! Do you have a clue?

Tell us, what is "really going on" with illegal immigration

Tell us, fluff princess! Tell us!; Reply to this comment

by vietvet68-69 April 29, 2010 12:51 AM EDT

Hey Meghan, you probably won't read this however, your father is a hero. Take your fat-honky azz to Mexico. Your dad had a chance to do something about immigration years ago, but he did nothing. Your dad's another RINO and this is the reason he has to go! I hope he takes you along with him.

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by AshleyArt May 1, 2010 5:12 PM EDT: You have got to be kidding. LOL. Do you even know the history of this country?


by mndudester May 2, 2010 2:34 PM EDT: Meghan you sorry excuse for an American, the Mexicans are taking over and no one seems to care! Americans are footing the bills for these illegal Mexicans, yes they are Mexicans not Americans, big difference, AZ I'm in your corner, Meghan, take a hike into Mexico and preach to them you selfserving B--ch.

by deserteagle603 April 28, 2010 10:23 PM EDT

I believe that these bleeding heart liberals that want our country overrun by Mexicans and other illegal immagrants are hurting our country more than any terrorist could ever do. These people and I especially include our president and the democratic congress should consider the damage thse people are doing to our country. Obama has already hurt this country more than any other person in history, along with his associates in congress now they are trying to turn this country into a third world country. Americans had better wake up and put a stop to it or they will take every thing you have worked for and put you out into the street.

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by AshleyArt May 1, 2010 5:18 PM EDT: At least they have a heart.

by spainiard686 April 28, 2010 6:58 PM EDT

You know what really bugs me. The fact that the Mexican government does not do anything. They don't even try to help and enforce the borders. I don't understand why they are not getting any of the blame. There is also a huge gap between the wealthy Mexicans and the poor Mexicans. The wealthy Mexicans don't like to share, and the poor Mexicans don't have any choice but to try to make a better living. What do you do when you have no choice and no job to work at and no food to eat? You may say what you want to do this and that about them, but remember, they are humans. HUMANS. Just like you and me. They may be darker in skin, the may have accents, but they are the same as you and me. When do you go from breaking the law to treating somebody like they are lesser than you and making them work like slaves. An old issue has been repackaged for a new generation.

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by iris41 April 28, 2010 9:43 PM EDT: i agree that Mexico has got to step up and help us solve this problem. i also generally agree with your comments about how Mexico has a segregated population where the poor have very little rights and opportunities. I'm very concerned that certain bigots will lead our ignorant population astray and we will end up like Mexico. We need to quit worrying about who is taking our jobs (supposedly) and see that the people who are trying to start a new race war are really in it for their own benefit. while the poor and middle class are all set to scream and yell and fight each other, the corrupt people get richer and pay legislators to do what they want. i hope enough people can still see what is happening and that this law is declared unconstitutional.


by michelita16 May 2, 2010 12:20 PM EDT: Also, we need to remember that the US experienced the most immigration after NAFTA passed. NAFTA further impoverished poor Mexicans who after failing to find work, headed north to the US in search of a robust economy that told them their hard work and reasonable wages were wanted. We love capitalism, supposedly, yet we don't like the collateral consequences of a capitalist market; the market knows no border. We either need to confront this with realistic and common sense immigration policy, or abandon capitalism if we can't handle others crossing the border to work.


by accidental_mexican April 28, 2010 5:09 PM EDT: Meghan the pagan...; Reply to this comment

by arizonalaw April 28, 2010 2:41 PM EDT

There are soooooooooo many illegals in this damn country..it's about damn time someone did something!!!!! I'm sick and tired of these people coming over here and taking our American jobs..and benefits..and running around w/ nothing to show they are here rightfully......the government says there may be 2 million of these illegal pukes here..and really there are 15 million of these scum sucking pieces of crap. cuz they crowd 4 families into a 2 bedrm home and drink beer and throw their trash all over the place like this is fricken Mexico or something...try living in Arizona w/ these bas tards..not fun at all....they have been sucking the life out of this state for years...it's about damn time!!!!! that's all I have to say!!!!...I'm for one am all for The New Law...I say..rock on...and more states should follow suit!!!!!

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by accidental_mexican April 28, 2010 5:03 PM EDT: Wow, whose this Mehgan chic, or should I say Orhgan, who can't use truth and logic, who writes for the daily breast. Nice Tweet by the way. She must not know any hispanics, they are the "legals", how dare this ditz compare hispanics to illegal aliens... Please, I've heard enough of her witless mumblings... Orghan, we're sorry that you're uncle and daddy doubled up on you as a child, but you know, you need to move on...


by spainiard686 April 28, 2010 6:32 PM EDT: Wow, you racist person. I don't care what you have against certain people, remember they are human, just like you! Never treat other human beings like they are garbage because that's truthfully the worst crime you can commit. Whoever you may be or what you may look like, you are in no way a better human than they are.

by ACheri April 28, 2010 1:59 PM EDT

I am so tired of the ongoing debates on stupidity. FACT - It is a crime to enter this country illegally. FACT - our borders leak like sieves. FACT - the Federal Gov knows it. FACT - we have cities that have passed ordinances to prevent immigrants from being asked about their citizenship. FACT - Immigration is not the issue, the method of entering is. So with these facts why are we not up in arms over the criminals who are caught here and not deported who would not qualify to be here legally? Why are we not up in arms over the apparent fear our Fed Gov has shown through their lack of commitment in addressing the issue? If you have the desire to compare the Ariz law with the Nazi/Jew era - provide another solution. There is only 1 way to determine legal status of a person - ask for proof. It has not worked to put that on employers. It has not worked to stop them at the borders. The choices are finite. Verify status and treat criminals as such, prevent illegal {criminal} immigration, or do away with immigration laws completely and let everyone in. None are a 100% solution but at some point the issue must be addressed. If the Arizona laws forces the debate to come to some action - Hurray for them, if the factions do nothing but point fingers and posture and still not address the issue what the heck is it going to take!!!

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by michelita16 May 2, 2010 12:31 PM EDT: Fact checks: 1. It's a violation of federal civil law to be in this country illegally; it's only a federal crime when you come in after being deported and during the time frame you were supposed to remain outside of the US (usually 10 years). As such, AZ law is not enforcing federal law, it created a new crime out of an issue exclusively belonging to the plenary powers of Congress. 2. Fewer apprehensions than ever have occurred on the border in the last year noting either fewer immigrants are coming over or more immigrants are coming in successfully covertly, though the latter is unlikely with the increase in border patrol. 3. Most of those ordinances have been struck down as unconstitutional. Here is a good article fact checking any criminal assertions on the need for this law: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/29/arizona.immigration.crime/index.html?section=cnn_latest


by annyce April 28, 2010 11:36 AM EDT: Check out an ultra-cool conservative podcast about the Arizona law at: www.cashbeechcroft.podomatic.com

From a rising star in the Tea Party movement.; Reply to this comment

by ChrisNTX April 28, 2010 11:18 AM EDT

If we're not going to enforce these immigration laws then I don't understand why we don't just tear down the fence, open the borders, and make it a free-for-all.

The way we enforce things now sends the message, "hey, we're going to try to trip you up. Here's a big fence that you have to figure a way around, and here's a few scattered border agents that are going to try to catch you BUT if you can make it across this obstacle course then you'll win the GRAND PRIZE! You'll get all the benefits of being a US citizen without the burden of taxes or paying anything for your fair share!"

We should set up cameras and make a TV show out of it - Mexican Wipeout.

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by accidental_mexican April 28, 2010 5:05 PM EDT: That is an excellent idea, seriously.. you should do it...!


by AshleyArt April 28, 2010 6:02 PM EDT: It's not just Mexicans that are here Illegal.

Illegal Entry by Non-Mexicans Rises

HOUSTON
After decades of attempting to dam the flow of Mexican immigrants crossing into the United States illegally, federal agents say a new crisis is emerging along the southern border and they are helpless to stop it.

Non-Mexicans are spilling over the border in record numbers - some from countries with terrorist ties - and most are set free soon after being captured.

Already this year, the number of non-Mexican apprehensions has far outpaced last year's total in just eight months. And while they are still a relatively small percentage compared with the number of illegal Mexicans, critics say the federal government's policy in dealing with them is far more dangerous.

Because OTMs, or "Other Than Mexicans" as the Border Patrol classifies them, must be returned to their country of origin, they cannot be simply sent back across the southern border, as most Mexicans are. Under US law, they must be detained (in the US) pending a deportation hearing. The problem is, immigration detention centers are packed, so most OTMs are given a court summons and told to return in three months. A full 85 percent don't.

According to the Border Patrol, some 465,000 OTMs have taken advantage of this "catch and release" policy to settle here in the US. "It's an insane policy which encourages OTMs to come into the country illegally, and we shouldn't be shocked that they are coming in record numbers," says T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents more than 9,000 agents.

In fact, he says, after crossing the border, many OTMs flag down agents or walk up to them and surrender, knowing they will be released. "The word is out," says Mr. Bonner. "They know that as soon as they are caught, they will be free to roam at will."

Click on the link for the rest of the story http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0726/p01s01-usfp.html